Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

How the fee is offset by credits

At face value the listed credits ($484 a year) exceed the $95 fee, but only spending you would have made anyway counts. A realistic test is to add up only the credits you used last year.

How it compares

Rules and gotchas

• The welcome bonus requires $3,000 in 6 months — roughly $500 a month. That fits inside the $1,000 a month in our illustration.
• Bonus cap on U.S. Supermarkets: On up to $6,000 per calendar year in purchases (then 1%).
• 2 of the listed credits require enrollment before they work.
• A 2.7% foreign transaction fee applies to purchases processed outside the US.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Blue Cash Preferred have an annual fee?

Yes — $95 a year, according to the issuer information in our record.

What does the Blue Cash Preferred earn?

6% on U.S. Supermarkets, 6% on Select U.S. Streaming Subscriptions, 3% on transit, 3% on U.S. Gas Stations, and 1% on other purchases. Some bonus rates are capped; see the rules and gotchas above.

Is the Blue Cash Preferred worth it in the first year?

Using our illustration ($12,000 of yearly spending, $3,000 of it in Select U.S. Streaming Subscriptions), the first year comes out around $175 before credits, including a welcome bonus valued at $0. Year two drops to about $175 before credits.

Does the Blue Cash Preferred charge foreign transaction fees?

Yes, 2.7% on purchases processed outside the US, so keep another card for travel abroad.

Do the Blue Cash Preferred's credits cover the annual fee?

The listed credits add up to $484 a year at face value against a $95 fee. Count only the credits you'd use without changing your spending, and remember 2 need enrollment.

What credit do I need for the Blue Cash Preferred?

Our record lists "Good" credit as the typical target for the Blue Cash Preferred. American Express makes the final decision based on its own criteria.